Hair treatment system and method

ABSTRACT

There is provided a hair treatment system and method that utilizes a hair styling tool suitable for styling hair and an application cloth suitable for applying a substance to selected portions of a person&#39;s hair. The application cloth and the hair styling device cooperate, via hair contacting elements and/or a securing frame, to provide an effective, efficient and versatile system that facilitates the effective transfer of any of a variety of different hair treatment substances in accordance with various specialized or required hair styling or conditioning procedures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a hair styling system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hair treatment system and method utilizing a hot hair iron.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Flat iron hair straighteners and/or crimpers are well known. Typically, these devices have two pivoting arms with at least one arm having a heating surface suitable for making direct contact with the hair of a user. These devices can be configured to provide a variety of different styling effects to the hair. For example, as locks of hair are gripped between the two arms, the hair can be straightened, curled or crimped depending on the configuration of the heating surface.

[0005] Furthermore, it is also well known to apply various substances to the hair in the treatment and/or styling of hair. These substances are often in liquid semi-liquid (e.g., gel) form and are typically applied to the hair via a person's hand and/or a delivery vessel with a dispensing outlet. Examples of substances commonly applied to the hair include moisturizing agents, anti-static agents, de-tangling agents, straighteners, conditioners, and shine enhancers. Certain of these various substances are intended to be applied in a dry form or when the hair itself is dry. For example, it is desirable to apply certain substances only to the distal ends or portions of the hair rather than to the scalp. Another example is when it is desirable to apply a substance during a final styling step such as brushing or blow-drying. Consequently, techniques have been developed to facilitate these different applications. For example, certain substances are applied to the hair via a medium such as a cloth or fabric. Typically, a piece of cloth or fabric is impregnated or soaked in the hair treatment substance to be applied to the hair and is then applied to the hair as appropriate to achieve a desired effect (e.g., applied directly to the distal ends of the hair or to selected groups of hair).

[0006] In using a piece of cloth or fabric to apply a substance to the hair, it is often necessary to drape or wrap the saturated cloth over and/or about the hair or head to facilitate the effective transfer of the substance to the hair. Further, it is also often necessary to apply heat, via a blow dryer, for example, to facilitate the effective transfer of certain heat sensitive substances.

[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for an effective, efficient and versatile system that facilitates the effective transfer of any of a variety of different hair treatment substances in accordance with various specialized or required hair styling or conditioning procedures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system, and related method, for efficiently and effectively applying any of a variety of substances to selected portions of a person's hair via a cloth.

[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a system, and related method, for applying any of a variety of heat sensitive substances to selected portions of a person's hair via a cloth in combination with a heatable hair styling tool.

[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system, and related method, for applying any of a variety of substances to selected portions of a person's hair via a cloth in combination with a straightening and/or curling iron.

[0011] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by a hair treatment system with a hair styling tool having a pair of pivotally connected arms, one or more hair contacting elements that can be permanently or removably connected to the hair styling tool, a securing frame that can be permanently or removably connected to the one or more hair contacting elements and/or the hair styling tool, and an application cloth for applying a substance to desired, selected portions of a person's hair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a hair styling or conditioning system in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a top view of a contacting plate in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a side view of the contacting plate of FIG. 2;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the contacting plate of FIG. 2;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a plan view of a first frame element in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 6 is a plan view of a second frame element in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and

[0018]FIG. 7 is a plan view of the first frame element of FIG. 5 and second frame element of FIG. 6 cooperating to hold an application cloth in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Referring to the drawings and, in particular, FIG. 1, there is shown a hair treatment system in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention generally represented by reference numeral 1. Preferably, treatment system 1 has a hair styling tool 2, one or more heatable hair contacting elements 4 connected to hair styling tool 2, one or more securing frames 6 connected to hair styling tool 2 and/or hair contacting elements 4, and one or more application fabric or cloth 8 cooperative with hair contacting elements 4 via frames 6.

[0020] While the preferred aspects described herein relate, by way of example, to a styling tool as shown in FIG. 1, system 1 of the present invention may additionally and/or alternatively use any of a variety of other styling tools, such as, for example, curling irons, hair setters, setting rollers, and other like devices. Also, although a heat-activated substance is, by way of example, used to illustrate certain preferred aspects of the present invention, a variety of additional and/or alternative substances including, but not limited to, moisturizing agents, anti-static agents, de-tangling agents, straighteners, conditioners, shine enhancers and/or other heat-activated substances.

[0021] Hair styling tool 2 preferably has a pair of pivotally connected arms 10. Each arm 10 preferably has a hand gripping portion 12 and a hair engaging portion 14. Each arm 10 has a proximal end 16 and a distal end 20. Arms 10 are preferably pivotally connected at proximal end 16 thereof via a hinge 18. Hinge 18 preferably biases arms 10 apart. The bias associated with hinge 18 can be selectively overcome via a user interaction. For example, hand gripping portions 12 are preferably shaped, sized and/or configured to enable a user to efficiently overcome the bias of hinge 18.

[0022] Hair engaging portions 14 are preferably located at distal ends 20 of arms 10 and arms 10. Arms 10 can be manipulated, for example, via gripping portions 12 so that the arms pivot relative to each other about hinge 18 to selectively move hair engaging portions 14 between a closed, relatively parallel state, and an open, relatively angled state. Hair engaging portions 14 are preferably suitable for selectively mounting, holding and/or retaining hair contacting elements 4 and/or frames 6.

[0023] In one aspect of the present invention, hair engaging portions 14 of each arm 10 form paddles that face each other so as to be selectively closed or clamped together and open or separated apart. In this aspect of the invention, hair engaging portions 14 are suitable to be clamped about selected portions of hair to apply heat and/or provide a styling effect thereto. Depending on the shape, size and/or configuration of hair engaging portions 14 and the technique employed, hair can be straightened, shaped and/or otherwise styled as desired.

[0024] Arms 10 can preferably be made of any suitable material and/or combination of materials for providing safe and effective handling. Also, arms 10 may have any appropriate shape or configuration sufficient to accommodate a variety of different applications in use.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, in a preferred aspect of the present invention, heatable hair contacting elements 4 selectively cooperate with hair engaging portions 14 to provide additional and/or alternative hair styling options. Contacting elements 4 may be fixed or removable with respect to hair engaging portions 14 and can have any shape, size and/or configuration appropriate for their intended use. For example, contacting elements 4 can have an upper surface 24 that is flat or smooth for straightening hair, corrugated for crimping hair, or otherwise formed to provide other hair styling effects.

[0026] Contacting elements 4 can have an engaging groove 26 as shown in FIG. 4, preferably in a lower surface 28 thereof and with guides 29, for cooperating with a complementary engaging tongue 30 associated with hair engaging portions 14 as shown in FIG. 1. The tongue 30 can be either in and/or on the paddles. The tongue and groove connection can be used to facilitate the interchangeability of the various contacting elements 4. Also, in one aspect of the present invention tongue 30 and groove 26 can be thermally interactive such that heat generated via hair styling tool 2 can be selectively transferred to an engaged contacting element 4 via tongue 30 of hair engaging portions 14. Further, the tongue and groove connection can inhibit or prevent vertical displacement of contacting elements 4 with respect to hair engaging portions 14. In another aspect of the invention, hair engaging portions 14 can each have a lock/release mechanism 32 suitable to selectively secure contacting elements 4 in position and, in combination with the tongue and groove connection, prevent any lateral displacement of contacting elements 4 with respect to hair engaging portions 14.

[0027] Contacting elements 4 can also have a fastener 34 with a locking element 32 for cooperating with a lock/release mechanism 33 associated with hair engaging portions 14 as shown in FIG. 1, to removably connect contacting elements 4 to hair engaging portions 14. Fastener 34 can additionally and/or alternatively be suitable to removably connect frames 6 to contacting elements 4 and/or hair engaging portions 14. For example, in one aspect of the present invention, hair engaging portions 14 are each provided with one or more flanges 36, shown in FIG. 1. Flanges 36 are preferably configured so that contacting elements 4 and/or frames 6 can be snap-fit thereover. Other configurations may additionally and/or alternatively be used.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5 to 7, in a preferred aspect of the present invention, frames 6 preferably have two clamping elements, a first upper clamping element 38 and a second lower clamping element 40. First clamping element 38 preferably has a grasping portion 39 and can preferably be removably connected to hair styling tool 2. Second clamping element 40 can preferably be pivotally connected to first clamping element 38 via a pin 41 that cooperates with a socket 43 in first clamping element 38. Preferably, first and second clamping elements 38, 40 can selectively, securely hold or retain cloth 8 therebetween. For example, in one aspect of the present invention, first clamping element 38 can have one or more first securing elements 42, best shown in FIG. 1. Also, second clamping element 40 can likewise have one or more second securing elements 44, best shown in FIG. 1. First securing elements 42 can preferably penetrate cloth 8 and traverse second securing elements 44. While second securing elements 44 can preferably receive first securing elements 42 when first clamping element 38 and second clamping element 40 are clamped or closed together. Thus, cloth 8 can preferably be secured between first and second clamping elements 38, 40 via first and second securing elements 42, 44, and can be operatively connected to hair styling tool 2 via frames 6.

[0029] It is noted that other configurations and/or arrangements may additionally and/or alternatively be used to operatively connect cloth 8 to hair styling tool 2. For example, snaps, clips, Velcro™ straps, or any similar type connection may be used. Alternatively, cloth 8 can be modified to facilitate cooperation between hair styling tool 2 and cloth 8. For example, cloth can be formed into a sock (not shown) with an open end suitable to slip over the hair styling tool in an operatively appropriate manner.

[0030] Preferably, each contacting element 4 is formed of a suitable heat conductive material such as, for example, a metallic material and/or a ceramic material.

[0031] Cloth 8, as best shown in FIG. 7, is preferably suited to be selectively secured or clamped between clamping elements 38, 40 of each frame 6. One or more pieces of cloth 8 may be used as desired for accomplishing a desired hair styling effect. Cloth 8 can have any of a variety of shapes, sizes and/or configurations appropriate to effectively cooperate with frames 6 and/or hair styling tool 2. Cloth 8 can be single-layered or multi-layered. Cloth 8 is preferably appropriately absorbent to selectively absorb and/or hold, as desired, any of a variety of different substances (e.g., hair treatments). Cloth 8 can be disposable and/or reusable. Cloth 8 can be made of a paper and/or fabric construction. The absorbency and heat resistance characteristics associated with cloth 8 are preferably sufficient for its intended use. For example, hair styling tool 2 may operate at temperatures in excess of 200° C. Thus, cloth 8 is preferably able to safely withstand these temperatures. Also, cloth 8 is preferably able to effectively absorb substances of a variety of different consistencies and/or viscosities.

[0032] Having described some of the preferred aspects of the present invention, the method for implementing the present invention to efficiently and effectively apply a substance to selected portions of a person's hair includes providing a hair styling tool such as, for example, the styling tool previously described herein. The styling tool is preferably operatively connected to contacting elements 4, securing frames 6, and cloth 8.

[0033] Referring again to FIG. 1, in use, one or more pieces of cloth 8 are preferably secured to hair styling tool 2 via securing frames 6. That is, the one or more pieces of cloth 8 are preferably sandwiched between clamping elements 38, 40 of each frame 6 such that securing elements 42, 44 thereof can securely hold the one or more pieces of cloth in place. Each frame 6 can be connected to hair styling tool 2 at any time, as desired, before and/or after cloth 8 is secured to frames 6. Frame 6 may be connected to hair styling tool 2 in any suitable manner (e.g., fasteners 34 and/or flanges 36). The one or more pieces of cloth 8 can have thereon the desired hair treatment substance. Cloth 8 may be provided with the desired hair treatment substance at any time, as desired, before and/or after cloth 8 is secured to frames 6.

[0034] Once the one or more pieces of cloth 8 are properly secured to frames 6, and the frames are properly secured to the hair styling tool 2, the hair styling tool, which preferably has a heater (not shown) operatively connected to a power source (not shown) via a power cord 15, can be activated to provide heat either directly to the one or more pieces of cloth 8 or indirectly thereto via contacting elements 4.

[0035] The hair treatment substance can then be applied to selected portions of the person's hair via the one or more pieces of cloth 8 in combination with hair styling tool 2 as desired. Thus, the one or more pieces of cloth 8 preferably cooperate with hair styling tool 2 so that a heat-activated substance contained in the pieces of cloth can be activated while in contact with the selected portions of hair during use of the hair styling tool to apply the hair treatment substance as desired to the hair.

[0036] The present invention having been thus described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the present invention as defined herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair treatment system comprising: a hair styling tool having a pair of pivotally connected arms; one or more hair contacting elements connected to said hair styling tool; a securing frame that can be connected to said one or more hair contacting elements and/or said hair styling tool; and an application cloth for applying a substance to selected portions of a person's hair.
 2. The hair treatment system of claim 1, wherein said hair styling tool is a heatable flat iron.
 3. The hair treatment system of claim 1, wherein said hair styling tool is a heatable curling iron.
 4. The hair treatment system of claim 1, wherein said hair styling tool is heatable to thermally communicate with said hair contacting elements.
 5. The hair treatment system of claim 1, wherein said hair contacting elements have an upper flat contacting surface.
 6. The hair treatment system of claim 1, wherein said hair contacting elements have an upper corrugated contacting surface.
 7. The hair treatment system of claim 1, wherein said securing frame has an outer clamping element that connects to said contacting elements and/or said hair styling tool.
 8. The hair treatment system of claim 7, wherein said connection is selective and said securing frame removable from said contacting elements and/or said hair styling tool.
 9. The hair treatment system of claim 7, wherein said securing frame has an inner clamping element that is pivotally connected to said outer clamping element.
 10. The hair treatment system of claim 8, wherein said outer clamping element and said inner clamping element cooperate to hold said application cloth therebetween.
 11. The hair treatment system of claim 9, wherein said application cloth is connected to said contacting elements and/or said hair styling tool so that said application cloth is against an upper heatable contacting surface of said contacting elements.
 12. A securing frame for securing a hair application cloth to a hair styling tool comprising: a first clamping element for connection to said hair styling tool; a second clamping element, said first and second clamping elements being pivotally connected together, wherein said first and second clamping elements cooperate to hold the application cloth therebetween.
 13. The securing frame of claim 12, wherein said first clamping element has one or more first securing elements.
 14. The securing frame of claim 13, wherein said second clamping element has one or more second securing elements.
 15. The securing frame of claim 14, wherein said first securing elements can penetrate the application cloth and traverse said one or more second securing elements.
 16. The securing frame of claim 15, wherein said one or more second securing elements can receive said one or more first securing elements when said first clamping element and said second clamping element are clamped together to retain the application cloth therebetween.
 17. A method for applying a substance to selected portions of a person's hair comprising the steps of: providing a hair styling tool, one or more hair contacting elements connected to said hair styling tool, a securing frame connected to said one or more hair contacting elements and/or said hair styling tool, and an application cloth for applying a substance to selected portions of a person's hair; and securing said application cloth to said hair styling tool by said securing frame.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of applying a hair treatment substance to selected portions of a person's hair via said application cloth in combination with said hair styling tool as desired.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein said hair treatment substance is heat-activated and said hair styling tool is heatable.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said application cloth is secured to said hair styling tool so that said heat-activated hair treatment substance in said application cloth can be activated while in contact with said selected portions of hair during use of said hair styling tool. 